The Most Heated Debate in New Jersey History
The pork roll vs taylor ham debate is the most heated argument in New Jersey history.
The Origin Story: Why We’re All Technically Wrong
Let’s set the record straight: Taylor Ham is actually a brand name, not the official name of the product. Created in 1856 by John Taylor of Trenton, the processed pork product was originally called “Taylor’s Prepared Ham.” However, in 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act forced Taylor to change the name because it didn’t meet the legal definition of “ham.” The product was rebranded as “Taylor Pork Roll.”
So technically, we should all be calling it pork roll, right? Well, Jersey girls (and guys) aren’t known for letting technicalities get in the way of tradition.
The Great Divide: North vs South
The pork roll/Taylor Ham debate roughly breaks down by geography:
- North Jersey (especially Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Passaic counties): Team Taylor Ham
- Central Jersey (Middlesex, Monmouth, and parts of Mercer): The battleground where both terms coexist
- South Jersey (Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, and Cape May counties): Strictly pork roll territory
North Jersey girls will order a “Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese” at their local diner without a second thought. Head south of Route 1, and you’ll hear “pork roll, egg, and cheese” exclusively. The division is so significant that it’s become a defining characteristic of New Jersey identity.
Why Jersey Girls Are So Passionate About This
For Jersey girls, this isn’t just about breakfast meat – it’s about home. Whether you grew up calling it pork roll or Taylor Ham, that name represents Saturday morning diner runs with your family, late-night bagel shop orders after a shore night out, or the smell of breakfast cooking on Sunday mornings.
It’s one of those things that instantly connects you to other Jersey girls. When you meet someone from Jersey, the pork roll/Taylor Ham question is a conversation starter that reveals everything: where they’re from, what diners they frequented, and whether you share the same New Jersey roots.
The Verdict: What Should You Call It?
Here’s the truth every Jersey girl eventually learns: It doesn’t really matter what you call it, as long as you’re eating it. Whether you order “Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese” at a North Jersey diner or “pork roll, egg, and cheese” at a South Jersey bagel shop, you’re getting the same delicious, salty, slightly sweet breakfast meat that defines New Jersey mornings.
The real answer? Call it whatever your mama called it. That’s the Jersey way – loyal to your roots, proud of your hometown, and never backing down from what you know is right.
So what do you call it? Drop your answer in the comments and rep your county! #JerseyGirlsKnow
And here’s a fun fact: the pork roll vs taylor ham divide even extends to how Jersey girls order at the diner. North Jersey natives will confidently say “I’ll have a Taylor Ham sandwich,” while South Jersey girls wouldn’t dream of calling it anything but pork roll. It’s a badge of honor, a way of identifying where you’re from without even mentioning your town name. This simple breakfast order has become so much more than food – it’s a cultural marker that defines New Jersey identity across generations.
Whether you’re Team Pork Roll or Team Taylor Ham, one thing’s for sure: this debate brings Jersey girls together in the most uniquely New Jersey way possible. It sparks conversations, creates connections, and reminds us all that despite our differences in what we call our favorite breakfast meat, we’re all proud to be from the Garden State. The passion behind this debate shows just how deeply food, culture, and identity are intertwined in New Jersey life.
